Recently, Tim Hortons was approached in Rhode Island to provide free coffee and products for a local event, as we do thousands of times a year across Canada and the United States.

For 45 years, Tim Hortons and its store owners have practiced a philosophy of giving back to the communities in which we operate. As a company, our primary focus is on helping children and supporting fundraising events for non-profit organizations and registered charities.

For this reason, Tim Hortons has not sponsored those representing religious groups, political affiliates or lobby groups.

It has come to our attention that the Rhode Island event organizer and purpose of the event fall outside of our sponsorship guidelines. As such, Tim Hortons can not provide support at the event.

Tim Hortons and its store owners have always welcomed all families and communities to its restaurants and will continue to do so. We apologize for any misunderstanding or inconvenience this may have caused.

Awesome. Thank you, Tim Hortons!

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I’m bored and hanging out on Twitter (it’s IRC 2.0!), and came across this link saying that Tim Hortons is sponsoring the National Marriage Organization’s Rhode Island “Marriage Day“, an event described as:

.. a great opportunity to take a stand for marriage as it was created: between a man and a woman. Our goal is to esteem marriage to its proper place in society and make a statement that Rhode Islanders believe strongly in this cherished institution.

Tim Hortons is a Canadian icon, and to have their name used to promote something so horrible is just repulsive. They have a “contact us” form on their website, so I sent in a note:

I am incredibly disappointed to see that Tim Hortons is sponsoring the National Organization Marriage’s Rhode Island “Marriage Day” event on Sunday, August 16th. Tim Hortons is a Canadian icon, and to have the name associated with an organization dedicated to denying basic human rights is truly distasteful. In addition, Tim Hortons has a stellar reputation for truly doing good in the community – the NOM does little more than spread hate under the guise of “the wholesome family”. I truly hope this was an oversight on your part, or there is SOME other explanation as to why you would lend your name to something so negative and abhorrent.

If you find this sponsorship as disgusting as I do, consider letting them know. I might love me an Iced Cappuccino on a hot summer day, but I won’t be refreshed at the cost of basic human rights or decency.

9 Responses to “sunday night activism”

I was very disappointed to learn that Tim Hortons has chosen to sponsor the National Organization Marriage’s Rhode Island “Marriage Day” event on Sunday, August 16th. This event aims to fight marriage equality in the state of Rhode Island.

I immigrated to Canada over 7 years ago, and became a citizen in May of this year. I was so proud to take the oath and become a citizen of a country that stands for tolerance and equality for all. Tim Hortons is a Canadian icon, and I am horribly disappointed that you have chosen to forsake these values and sponsor an anti-equality event.”

I’m not sure how I feel about their apology. It’s kind of, “hey, we don’t want to get involved, but shop here anyway.”

I mean, given their US ownership, I’m not expecting them to agree with most of us here in Canada and essentially everyone I know or interact with ever that NOMRI is an anti-queer hate group, but still, yeah… that’s not good.

I wonder if their lawyers have whitewashed this response. I would’ve been totally on board with a one-liner like, “Those sneaky bastards tricked us; our bad, guys.” Or even a two-liner: “…also, free Iced Capp if you get your gay on at Timmy’s.”

I do know what you mean, though. I’m sure they had to give an “official, corporate response” and had a PR person spit that out. As much as we might wish otherwise, they have to also be conscious of the other side: they calmed us down, but now I bet the NOM are up in arms over their caving to the demands of heathens. Thing is, there are FAR more angry liberals in Canada just itching to get their boycott on compared to the NOM’ers with access to a Tim Hortons in the US.

I dunno – Google can probably answer that for you. I remember reading a couple of months ago that they were reorganizing as a Canadian company to take advantage of our sweet corporate tax policies. I assumed it was a done deal, maybe not?

[…] (3 times!) Called the cops on my neighbours for drunk driving. Took up e-activism; got angry at Tim Hortons for supporting the NMO. Got kicked out of a parkade; took up more activism. Bubbles! Zombies! Was […]